Republican Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed legislation to expand Medicaid five times, making Maine the only state in New England to turn down federal expansion funds. Most of the 70,000 Mainers this program would help are working but do not have or cannot afford health insurance.
The federal government would pay 100 percent of the cost to expand Medicaid the first year. Next year they will pay 95 percent, and in 2017 they will cover 90 percent. The percentage would never go below 90 percent, so this expansion would not be a huge financial burden on Mainers.
Expanding Medicaid would create thousands of new jobs and help compensate the hospitals. Without it, we taxpayers will have to pick up a portion of uncompensated costs by paying higher premiums for our health insurance.
Vicki Durrell
South Portland
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